PHILADELPHIANS

This article appears in Volume V21, Page 373 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: PER-PIG

PHILADELPHIANS , a sect of religious mystics, founded in London in the latter part of the 17th century. In 1652 Dr John Pordage (1607-1681),

rector

RECTOR (Lat. for " ruler," " guide," &c., from regere, "
rule
- RULE
")

' of Bradfield, Berkshire, gathered together a few followers of Jakob

Boehme

BOEHME (or BEHMEN), JAKOB (1575-1624)

, the

chief

CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

of whom was Jane Lead or Leade (nee Ward; 1623-1704). Pordage was ejected from his living by the Triers in 1655, but was restored in 166o. Mrs Leade had been from girlhood of a mystical temperament, and experienced phantasms which she recorded in a diary entitled A Fountain of Gardens, beginning in 167o, in which year the Philadelphian society was definitely organized. She drew up for it " The

Laws

LAWS

of Paradise," which show that the enterprise was designed " to advance the Kingdom of God by improving the life, teaching the loftiest morality, and enforcing the duty of universal brotherhood, peace and love." Its members had a strong faith in what they called the " Divine Secrets," the wonders of God and nature, the profound spiritual experiences of regeneration and soul-resurrection, and the second Advent. In 1693 some of Mrs Leade's writings were translated into Dutch, and by this means and her acquaintance with Francis Lee (1661-1719), an

Oxford

scholar who studied

medicine

MEDICINE

at Leiden and became her son-in-law, a connexion was opened up with Germany and Holland. In 1703 the Philadelphians drew up their

confession

CONFESSION (Lat. confessio, from confiteor, acknowledge, confess)

, but they made no further progress and soon declined. The Holland branch withdrew, and the English government forbade the society to meet. For many years, however, a considerable number of people regarded Mrs Leade's visions, which were published in a long

series

SERIES (a Latin word from serere, to join)

of writings, as proofs of her divine calling. In her later years she had a severe struggle with poverty, which was relieved by a pension granted by Baron Kniphausen.

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